Now that you have decided to do away with your old mattress and embrace a new one, it is no doubt that things will not be the same again.

However, in as much as you may have bought a mattress of your dreams, it will still need to be broken into to ensure maximum comfort henceforth.

Breaking in a new mattress can be a simple process but only if done right. As such, this process will require a great deal of patience and time.

Notably, some new mattress owners may not go through a noticeable break-in period for their mattresses but it is a common occurrence that you may take even upto over a month before you can comfortably feel that the mattress is not up to your desired standard.

Why Breaking in a New Mattress Matters

Getting the right mattress is not enough.

It is important that it goes through the right break-in procedure. A new mattress would usually have rigid sections that will need some time before they can conform to your body. As such, it will need sometime before it is accustomed to your body shape, size and sleeping position.

Notably, the discomfort felt on first use is expected, just like you would for a new pair of jeans or shoes as your body adjusts to it.

This may feel inconvenient, especially considering the fact that you expect to feel comfortable in your new mattress as soon as possible.

Mattress Break in Period: How long should the break-in period last?

At least one month is enough to test your mattress and feel in sync with it, sometimes more. This may be affected by factors like material and design of the mattress. For instance, you can expect to take a little more time breaking in a high-density memory foam compared to that of a traditional innerspring mattress.

How to speed up the break in process

It’s everyone’s desire that the go through the uncomfortable break-in period in the shortest time possible. As much as this process may sometimes take time, you can catalyze this by using the following tips:

1. Allow for some breathing period

The delivery of your mattress may usually involve it being stuffed in between other items or simply put in a certain package.  This will make the mattress feel stuffed.

It is, therefore, important that place it in your room and allow a few hours before you can spread beddings on it. The oxygen that will be re-introduced into the mattress during this time will help soften in more quickly even before your first use.

2. Show the effort

It is understandable that you are not yet used to your new mattress, but it will help if you put in the time by ensuring that you sleep in it every night and every opportunity you get for that matter.

With this frequent use, your mattress will soon flex and soften to a comfortable level. However, the period taken to beak in a mattress also depends on its design and material. The following are some common types of beds and expected break-in periods.

Traditional innerspring mattresses

The break in period for this type of mattress is usually short since they are usually sold with pillow-top cushioning. Its break-in period takes averagely four weeks.

Breaking in a Firm Latex Mattress

Based on its make from blended, synthetic or natural materials, a latex mattress has an elastic feel. This feel may not change drastically from the first night to the end of the break-in period. The mattress beaks in more quickly because more air can stay in the foam synthetics and so the process can take anything between a few days and a couple of weeks.

Breaking in a Memory Foam Mattress

A memory foam mattress such as Zotto typically takes much longer to break in due to its high density. As such, it may take up to 60 days to break-in such mattresses.

3. Some weight will do the magic

Ensure that you walk on your new mattress gently any time you get an opportunity to do so. This is especially so for a foam mattress. If you have children, then you can use them for this purpose.

In case of an innerspring mattress, however, the best you can do is to move across it with your feet and hands to keep the springs from getting out of place.

Alternatively, you may consider placing heavy items such as boxes and books on the mattress. You can then periodically shift them to ensure the weight is distributed all across the mattress. This will help increase the flexibility of the mattress’ materials without you having to sleep on it.

4. Increase the room temperature

Warming up the room can do the magic, especially if you are dealing with a foam mattress. This is because its layers are known to get firmer even with a slight drop in room temperature.

With an increase in warmth, therefore, the mattress will get softer and more comfortable to sleep in.

5. Recheck the state of your bed and beddings

As much as you may now have seen the need to check on your bed’s foundation with your old mattress, a new one will give you a reason to do so.

If your bed has a firm foundation, then you may have to change it at least for the duration of the break-in period. This will not only help improve on your comfort but will also help your mattress align more easily to the bed.

Equally important is the issue of bedsheets. Ensure that you use loose bedsheets as tight ones will keep your body stretched, and this creates a firm sensation.

Based on your sleeping style, your mattress may feel pressure on one side while the other remains firm.

We recommend that you rotate it at least every two days. This will help in distributing the body weight into the high-density areas. By the end of the break-in period, the mattress will be evenly comfortable.

Making use of a mattress topper to break in

A mattress topper is one of the best ways to break in a mattress, especially for those who do not want to deal with the discomfort that comes with the break-in period. This is a kind of bedding you would need to spread on top of your mattress before you sleep on it.

By the time the break-in period is over, your mattress will have already gained the feel you have always wanted and you would not have to use the topper again. The following are some of the benefits of using a mattress topper for breaking in a new mattress.

• Pressure relief: A mattress topper ensures that excessive pressure that would usually be experienced in a new mattress is not realized. Instead, the pressure will be exerted on the new mattress thus helping it get softer much faster.
• Keeps the mattress relatively new:  A mattress can go through so much pressure during the break-in period. For strategies like walking on the mattress or letting children play on it can sometimes wear out the mattress even before you get to enjoy its comfort. With a topper spread on top, it helps reduce the effects of such break in strategies.
• A travel companion: You have just bought a new mattress and have to travel with is for a camping or picnic retreat. In such instances, you can use a mattress topper to help you break in the new mattress as this will still guarantee you comfort without the need for other bulky beddings.

Differentiate a break in from sagging

Many new mattress users have often complained that their mattresses have ended up sagging after the break-in period. However, it is important to note that this is usually a result of poor quality fiber and use of low-grade polyurethane form or cheap coil springs.

As long as you have bought a quality mattress from a reputable manufacturer, then you do not need to worry about sagging during the break-in period.

Breaking in a new mattress is worth the wait

Note, a break in is meant to simply alight your mattress to feel comfortably normal. Based on the comfort level you expect, you can choose to use the most appropriate method. With patience, the ‘false firmness’ will fade away and you will enjoy the comfort you have always wanted with a mattress.

The right information on the break-in period will go a long way in helping you deal with the process much easily. As such, it is important that you inquire from the retailer about this based on the material and the design of your mattress.

Some of the issues you would need to seek clarification about include the options for firmness adjustment and return policies in case there is no change after break-in period ends. Whatever, the case, remembers that just like a new pair of shoes, your new mattress requires some time for it to break in before you can eventually enjoy the many years of comfortable sleep.

It is not always that you will achieve the desired results in regards to breaking in a mattress. This period may elapse but still don’t feel comfortable. In such instances, there would be two things involved: It would either mean that the material used is not of expected quality or you simply need a different level of firmness yourself.